Reviewed: Tony Moly Delight Tony Tint

As beauty editors, we get bombarded with a ton of new products every day (we know—tough life). Reviewed is a series where we report on some of the best products we’ve tried. Whether it’s a drugstore lipstick that lasted all day or a hand cream that saved us this winter, you’ll find all of our favorites in this column. Enjoy!

Most lip stains are like the cute boy you meet at the bar who loves The Strokes and can keep up with your witty banter but is also almost 30 and still lives with his parents. In other words, they’re intriguing at first, then ultimately disappointing. Not the case with Tony Moly’s Delight Tony Tint ($6). I received this inky-red tube in a box of beauty goodies from Urban Outfitters and was immediately intrigued by 1) the color and 2) the fact that it’s a Korean beauty product, so it is automatically wondrous and magical. All of Tony Moly’s beauty products are so cute it hurts (seriously, though, what are these little bunnies that also happen to be lip balms?!), and though this veers on the more conservative side, I still appreciated the (seemingly) hand-sketched white hearts on the outside of the sleek vial.

The real magic, however, is what’s inside: The stain smells like a fruity gummy candy and goes on with a super-intense layer of color in just one swipe. I’ve never experienced a stain with such great color payoff before, and I have tried many, many stains. The shade I have, “02,” is a darker cherry red—layering it will produce a darker, vampirish color. I find that a swipe or two is perfect for daytime, and when I want to turn up the drama, I’ll layer three or four coats. The one thing about this formula is that it dries very quickly, and since the consistency is watery (it is a stain, after all), you must apply and blend with haste (i.e., not while you’re driving). I swipe, press my lips together, then fill in any gaps and add definition with the applicator. The best, best part of this product—the reason it’s truly a standout in its respective category—is the amazing staying power. This lip stain does not budge. And, perhaps even more importantly, it does not feather or sink into your lip lines. It dries after a few seconds, and then you can count on it to make your lips look super badass for a solid few hours. At the end of that time, your lips will look subtly tinged with color, rather than like you just sucked on a cherry popsicle and forgot to wipe your mouth. So, feel free to eat, sip, and kiss with abandon—this lip stain won’t let you down.